Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-02-17
GENERAL SANDERS.
An Account Of His Death In 1858, %
Told by Maj. Lawder, Q Member Of
HIS Military Stad-An Eye
witness.
Details of the Last Battle Before the
Seige of Knoxville.


Vile and the hattie at Fort Sanders,
the majestic earthwork which crowns
the heights of the western suburbs Of
our city, has oft been told, and is
to almost all of our residents,
but the incidents and particulars of
the conflict are SO many and so varied
that they are always of interest,
particularly when they bring to light
and details which have
not previously been woven into the
narrative. The account of the gal
liant charge and defense have been
heard from scores Of lips, bat it was
our privilege yesterday, for the first
time, to receive from an eye witness
the sad story of the death of the gal
liant leader, after whom the fortlfica-
tions were named, Gen. w. P. Sand
ers.
For some days past Capt. w. p.
Chamberlain has had as his guest his
brother-in-law, Maj. r. E Lawder, of
Mexico, Mo, whom we were surprised
to learn was member of the staff Of
Gen. Sanders, and with him on the
fatal day. By appointment a rep
resentative of the Journal, yesterday,
accompanied the major to the field Of
conflict, and there on the historic
ground, listened to his account with
deep interest. As is known to many
of our readers the engagement took
place on the elevated ground i'm
mediately west of the residence Of
Mr. j. L. Thomas. Gen. Longstreet
had been lashing the rear of Burn
sides retreating forces from beyond
Loudon. Into Burnside's hand had
fallen the destinies of the Union
cause in East Tennessee, the safety
of Grants army at Chattanooga; yes
the key to all the military operations
between the Mississippi and the Poto-
mac-and the sturdy old commander
fully appreciated the responsibility.
Every foot of ground was contested
and the sullen battallons yielded only
at the cannon's mouth, and in the
presence of overwhelmingly supe
rior force. Day by day their ranks
were decimated, and foot-sore and
weary with constant marching ant
fighting, they retired before the
enemy and on the 18th of November
the infantry columns entered the be
leaguered city.
The cavalry, under command o
Gen. Sanders, were left to protect th,
rear, being supported by a few il
infantry regiments. The position
chosen for the last effort at resistance
outside the city was the crown of th'
hill just beyondMr. Thomas residence
where there is now q meadow. Up
on the crest there stands solitary
cedar tree and this marks about th'
center of the union line, their lef
resting on the Kingston pike and th'
right on the creek upon the nortl,
A mold fence was torn down and con
verted into the semblance of defen
sive work, and behind this the mel
upon whose steadiness and fortltud'
depended the safety of the army il
the city, now engaged with might am
main in the work of constructing th
earthen battlements, since known a
Fort Sanders, took their places.
Seeing his men in position, Gen
Sanders on the night of the 18th rod
into the city to report to Gen. Burr
side. His orders were to hold th
position till IL o'clock the next da,
the 18th, by which time Gen. Burr
side expected to have his fortific'
tions sufficiently completed to r'
lieve him and withdraw all the trool
within the works. 1t was expec
: ed that Longstreet would attack ca
ly and Gen. Sanders was with b
, men again before daylight next NOR
ing. He established headquarters in
t little depression about seventy-h'
i yards 10 the rear of the line, where
t and his staff were protected from Il
d fire of the enemy, who had place
q two batteries in the front yard
e Col. Bob Armstrong; residence, 81
: others in positions where they cou
e shell the union line and also fillil
o the Armstrong house with sha
8 shooters, the tall tower giving
: elevation from which the whole fie
r was covered. The morning hou
y we're spent by the union troops wi
a anxious waiting for the expected
tack, the men lying prone upon t
], ground behind the low and INSULT
Z ent protection afforded by the fen'
l. rails. The fire from the rebel GU
'e was incessant, but there was no &c
- eral attack. Anxiously the gene
L and his staff awaited the approach
'e midday, when General Burnside b
L promised relief. Twelve o'clo
y came ut last, but no relief. The Gre
eral, with thoughtful kindness, sc
their dinners out to them, but
" companied with the unwe|come
10 telligence that he would not relic
them yet, and with orders to hc
ID their position till 8 o'clock Enco'
se ed in the little basin, with shell 8
mimic ball whistling over th
ef heads, they ate their dinners In
sc ence, for this last order had put
end to their stories and converssti